Claudia Drake (born Olga Gloria Fishbine, January 30, 1918 – October 19, 1997) was an American actress and singer."California Birth and Death Records, 1818-1994", digital image of original birth certificate of Olga Gloria Fishbine, January 30, 1918, Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, California; Bureau of Vital Statistics, California State Board of Health, Sacramento. FamilySearch database.
Early years Drake appeared in comedy films with Fatty Arbuckle and Ben Turpin when she was 3 years old. At age 5, she and her sister Ella (age 8) formed the La Marr sisters, and the duo performed in vaudeville. Drake described their routines as "a typical sister act — songs, dances, and funny sayings." When Drake was a child, Tom Mix was her family's neighbor. He taught her to shoot and ride.
When Drake was 12 years old, she was told that she was too old to continue performing. She went to school until she reached 16, when she decided to resume performing.
Career Misrepresenting her age as 18, Drake became a chorus girl at the Warner studio. She also performed swimming sequences for Ruby Keeler in Footlight Parade (1933). Another stint in vaudeville followed as she and Ella re-created their act and toured the United States. When Ella married, the sister act ended, and Drake worked solo for a while in vaudeville before she returned to films.
Busby Berkeley saw her singing in a casino and signed her to a contract with Warner Bros. Her roles in films included being leading lady in Hopalong Cassidy Westerns. Her work in Cassidy films varied from that of his previous leading ladies. Producer Harry Sherman said, "I've always wanted to turn loose on the screen a hard-ridin', hard-shootin' cowgirl"; Drake fulfilled that desire. No stunt doubles or off-camera tricks were used for her on-screen activities.
She appears in both leading and supporting roles in a variety of B movies, mostly Westerns, from the 1940s and 1950s. One of her more memorable supporting roles is the character Sue Harvey in the 1945 film noir Detour.Renzi p.203 During the 1950s she also performed in several American television series.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1933 Footlight Parade Chorus Girl Uncredited1941 No Greater Sin Flo Uncredited1942 Flying with Music Jill Parker 1942 Reunion in France Girl Uncredited1943 Border Patrol Inez La Barca 1943 False Colors Faith Lawton 1943 Campus Rhythm Cynthia Walker 1944 Enemy of Women Maria Brandt 1945 The Lady Confesses Lucille Compton 1945 Bedside Manner Tanya Punchinskaya 1945 Why Girls Leave Home Marianna Mason 1945 The Crimson Canary Anita Lane 1945 Detour Sue Harvey 1946 Live Wires Jeanette 1946 The Face of Marble Elaine Randolph 1946 The Gentleman from Texas Kitty Malone 1946 Lawless Breed Cherie 1946 Lone Star Moonlight Mimi Carston 1946 Renegade Girl Mary Manson 1947 The Return of Rin Tin Tin Mrs. Graham 1948 Lady at Midnight Carolyn 'Sugar' Gold 1948 Indian Agent Torquoise 1949 The Cowboy and the Indians Lucy Broken Arm 1952 The Pace That Thrills Pearl 1953 Northern Patrol Oweena 1954 Day of Triumph Martha Uncredited1957 Calypso Joe Astra Vargas
References
Bibliography Renzi, Thomas C. Screwball Comedy and Film Noir: Unexpected Connections. McFarland, 2012.
External links